Barbed Tape and Apparatus for Deploying a Barbed Tape

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments are directed to a barbed tape formed from a planar strip of flexible material and including a plurality of barbs disposed therealong, the barbs being sufficiently resilient so as to impede, by entanglement with or otherwise, the passage of an object therepast. In some aspects, the tape incorporates a crease in a central portion thereof, which acts to provide stiffness to the tape. In other aspects, the tape incorporates a fold such that the barbs overlie a central portion of the tape. Apparatus for shaping and deploying barbed tape are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a barbed tape and apparatus fordeploying a barbed tape.

There are many situations in which there is a need to deny and/or secureaccess to a region of a building, an aircraft, a train, a town, a field,etc. This may be, for example, to temporarily secure a ‘cleared’ area ina combat zone, or to control the movements of individuals or crowds, forexample during a riot. It may also be desirable to suppress and curtailfleeing combatants in a non-lethal manner. To this end, it is known touse barbed wire in order to form a perimeter fence around an area or toform a barrier at a point of entry to a building, etc.

However, conventional barbed wire is slow and difficult to deploy andcan be logistically difficult to carry by dismounted troops or otherusers. Furthermore, it can be too aggressive for a given situation andcan cause significant injury. This may be highly undesirable, forexample, when the barbed wire may be encountered by a civilianpopulation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barbed tape andapparatus for deploying the same which substantially overcomes ormitigates at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a barbedtape formed from a planar strip of flexible material and comprising aplurality of barbs disposed therealong, said barbs being sufficientlyresilient so as to impede, by entanglement with or otherwise, thepassage of an object therepast, the tape comprising a central portionhaving first and second side edges and a longitudinal axis; a pluralityof barbs disposed at spaced locations along at least one of said sideedges, each of said barbs comprising at least one spike; wherein thecentral portion incorporates at least one crease therein, substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis.

The crease imparts a stiffness to the strip material, which maytherefore be more flexible that might otherwise be possible while beingcapable of supporting its own weight. The strip of material may be thin.The side edges may be parallel.

The tape is preferably a micro barbed tape. In particular, a microbarbed tape according to the invention may be produced from a stock tapeof around 5-20 mm in width. Further, micro barbed tape according to theinvention is preferably relatively thin, for example between 100-1000microns, and more preferably 100-600 microns. The length of each barb ispreferably between 2 mm to 30 mm.

Thus, the invention provides a low-risk and novel approach to theconcept of barbed wire, which in this invention is scaled and packagedto form a non-lethal counter personnel capability for entry pointcontrol.

Barbed tape according to the first aspect of the invention may bedesigned to be non-lethal and inflict only light injuries but presentsan entanglement feature that inhibits free passage of a person through adoorway or along a passage.

The barbed tape may be formed of a metal or a plastics material. In apreferred embodiment, the material is stainless steel having a thicknessof approximately 250-500 microns. Such tapes will be relatively lightand can be made to hold their own shapes.

The tape may comprise a coating which includes at least one ofultra-violet reflective matter and infra-red reflective matter to makeit visible to individuals with equipment capable of highlighting suchmatter.

In some embodiments, the central portion comprises sprocket holesarranged to receive a driving/securing member and/or to provide alocation along which a crease line is readily formed.

The barbed tape may have cross section of a closed box, U, V or W shape.These all provide a stiffening form with at least one crease line.

In some examples, in the barbs are arranged to overlap when the tape isfolded about one or more crease lines. Indeed, the barbs may interact toprevent the tape from becoming flat (i.e. to prevent the crease linefrom opening up).

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is a barbed tapecomprising: a central portion having a longitudinal axis; a plurality ofbarbs disposed at spaced locations along at least one of said sideedges, each of said barbs comprising at least one spike; and wherein thetape incorporates at least one fold therein, substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis, such that the barbs overlie the central portion.

Such a tape may be unfolded and formed with a crease so as to provide atape according to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the barbs lie substantially parallel to the central portionand do not protrude beyond the central portion. In such examples, in thefolded form, the barbs do not project from the tape and so it will beeasier to handle (as the barbs are prevented from entangling themselveswith other barbs, or indeed other entities external to the tape, such asthe person or machine handling the tape). The barbs may lie close to, orindeed in face-to-face contact with, the central portion.

In some examples, at least one of the fold lines forms at least onecrease line of tape according to the first aspect of the invention. Thismay be advantageous as the fold line may provide a weakness along whichthe crease line will readily form.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is providedapparatus comprising; punching means for punching out the profile of thebarbed tape from a strip of un-profiled tape; feeding means for feedingthe un-profiled tape past the punching means, and profiling means,disposed downstream of said punching means in a tape feed direction, forprofiling the tape so as to form a crease line.

The tape so formed may have any of the features described in relation tothe tape of the first aspect of the invention.

The apparatus may further comprise tape twisting means, for twisting thebarbed tape dispensed by the apparatus into a spiral. This means thatthe dispensed tape will tend to fill a volume of space.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda handheld device comprising the tape dispensing apparatus of the thirdaspect of the invention, the device further comprising control means andtrigger means wherein the control means is operable to control the tapedispensing apparatus to dispense barbed tape in response to a useractivating the trigger means. This provides a convenient device forusing the apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

Tape dispensing apparatus may advantageously comprise cutting means forcutting off a length of dispensed tape, and, optionally, control meansmay be able to activate the cutting means in response to the triggermeans moving from an activated state to a non-activated state.

Indeed, the control means is operable to control the punching means andthe feeding means to vary the rate at which barbed tape is dispensed independence on a degree of activation of the trigger means.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus for dispensing barbed tape comprising a handheld deviceaccording to the fourth aspect of the invention, a container for storinga supply of un-profiled tape and a conduit between the container and thehandheld device allowing the passage of tape therealong. The containeris preferably wearable by a user, such that the apparatus as a whole istransportable. Further, the container may usefully carry a power supplyfor powering operation of the handheld device.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is providedapparatus for reshaping a barbed tape according to the second aspect ofthe invention into tape according to the first aspect of the inventionand comprising a shaped peg having a wedge-like form which is arrangedto urge the barbs away from the central portion such that they standproud thereof.

Such apparatus may further comprise set of rollers that deform thecentral portion of the tape, providing at least one crease substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tape. This provides aconvenient means to add stiffness to the tape.

Such apparatus may further comprise set of profiled rollers arranged topartially open the fold lines prior to the tape being passed to theshaped peg. This will assist in ‘opening up’ the fold lines, allowingthe introduction of the peg.

Embodiments of the invention may be employed to provide micro barbedtape across points of access to snag the clothing of anyone passing it(or the coats of animals). Deployment methods (which could be used withother tape, including un-barbed tape or traditional barbed tape) arealso described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a view of a section of the barbed tape;

FIG. 2 is shows exemplary dimensions for the barbed tape shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3A-D show views of barbed tape according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4A-C show views of barbed tape according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an apparatus forunfolding barbed tape; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an apparatus fordeploying the barbed tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The concept of a micro-barbed tape is discussed with referring toFIG. 1. As described in greater detail in our co-pending applications,which bear reference numbers P7877, P7880 and P7878 (which areincorporated herein by reference to the fullest extent allowable), abarbed tape 1 may be formed from a substantially planar strip offlexible material, for example a barbed tape 1 may be punched from astrip of stainless steel having a nominal width of 10 mm and a nominalthickness of 250-500 microns. In alternative embodiments of the presentinvention, the barbed tape 1 may be formed from, for example, mild steelor other metals including non-ferrous metals, polymers or plasticsmaterials.

The strip of barbed tape 1 is formed with a continuous central portion2. A plurality of barbs 5 are disposed at regularly spaced locationsalong at least one edge of the central portion. In this example, each ofthe barbs 5 is formed as a ‘double barb’ having a T-shape and comprisinga connecting portion 6 which projects laterally from the respective edge3, 4 of the central portion 2 of the strip. A pair of arms 7, 8 aredisposed at the distal end of the connecting portion 6, furthest fromthe central portion 2 of the strip. The arms 7, 8 extend in respectiveopposite directions from the distal end of the connecting portion 6parallel to the lengthwise direction of the adjacent central portion 2of the strip. The arms 7, 8 terminate with a respective pair of spikes9, 10. Each of the spikes 9, 10 is substantially triangular in shapehaving a pointed tip which is defined by an acute angle between the twomajor sides thereof. The connecting portion 6 of each barb 5 acts tospace the pairs of spikes 9, 10 from the central portion 2 of the strip.Furthermore, each spike 9, 10 is shaped such that it tapers away fromthe central portion 2 of the strip.

Exemplary dimensions of a barbed tape 1 incorporating theabove-described features are shown in millimetres in FIG. 2.

The use of a relatively thin material is advantageous as it means thatthe resulting barbed tape 1 is lightweight and can be easily stowed.Furthermore, the flexibility of the barbed tape 1 ensures that it candeform around an object which it comes into contact with so as toensnare the object. The barbed tape 1 is also conveniently designed(such as shown in FIG. 2) so as to limit the injurious effects of thetape 1 as the spikes 9, 10 are too short to penetrate deeply into skin.Preferably, the barbed tape 1 is no more injurious than naturalbrambles.

Trials conducted by the Applicant have found that barbed tape 1according to the presently described embodiment, which has a thicknessof, say 250 or 500 microns, has a tensile strength and profile whichmeans that it cannot readily be pulled apart by hand. The distributionof the barbs 5 along each edge 3, 4 of the barbed tape 1 is such thatthey are closer together than the span of a typical human hand.Accordingly, a person cannot hold onto the tape at any point in anattempt to tear it apart without being impinged on at least one set ofspikes 9, 10.

The ‘double barbed’ design of the presently described embodiment, whilenot essential, advantageously ensures that that clothing, etc. caughtthereon is thoroughly ensnared. The location and spacing of the barbs 5is set so as to take advantage of the reaction of a body to beingimpinged by a spike 9, 10 (either directly or through clothing), whichis to withdraw from the point of pain. The rapid withdraw reaction hasthe effect of impaling the offending part of the body onto the adjacentspike. Thus, the “pull away” response from the first contact with thebarbed tape 1 is likely to cause greater contact with an adjacent spike9, 10. The only way to stop this sequence is to halt all violent actionand remain still. Once stopped one can then slowly withdraw each spike9, 10, and it is this action that creates the hindrance to freemovement.

As mentioned above, the barbed tape 1 may conveniently be formed bybeing punched out of a strip of material, such as stainless steel. TheApplicant has discovered that an advantageous consequence of thepunching process is that the tips of the spikes 9, 10 are sharpened asthe material bends, whereas the rest of the barb 5, i.e. the arms 7, 8and connecting portion 6, has a substantially square cut profile and isnot therefore sharp. This is useful because it means that, whilst thebarbs 5 remain effective at, for example, snagging clothing, they do nothave sharpened, bladed edges (as is the case with conventional ‘razorwire’) and so the chance of causing severe injury to a personencountering the barbed tape 1 is reduced. Furthermore, with a barbedtape 1 of the above described configuration it is possible to adjust theseverity of the effect provided by the tape (in accordance with theintended use) by selecting the appropriate geometry and scale of thebarbs 5 when the tape is formed. For example, the more acute the angleat the tip of each spike 9, 10, the greater the ability of the spike topenetrate the clothing of a person coming into contact with the tape.

The barbs 5 of a plurality of strips of the above-described barbed tape1 may ‘tessellate’ to save on material. The profile of the barbed tape 1has been designed for mass production such that, while it is possible topunch out a single strip, it is also possible to punch out numerousstrips side by side on a single pass through a punch machine. This isachieved by setting the gap between opposed spikes 9, 10 of adjacentbarbs 5 on each edge 3, 4 of a strip to be as long or longer than thelength of the barb assembly 5 itself (measured between the tips of eachspike 9, 10 of the barb assembly 5). This allows the barb 5 of one stripof tape to be punched into the space between barbs 5 on an adjacentstrip of tape thus saving material and speeding production with minimalwaste product.

When the barbed tape 1 is made of natural stainless steel it has a highreflection index. Accordingly, the barbed tape 1 may be treated suchthat it exhibits a lower reflectivity, making it harder to see. Forexample, the barbed tape may be painted matt black. Moreover, the barbedtape 1 may optionally contain markers which can readily be picked up byfriendly forces. For example, the barbed tape 1 may be treated withinfra-red (IR) and/or ultra violet (UV) reactive paints which arevisible to troops using night vision goggles or special eyewear or usingdedicated (IR/UV) illumination torches. Alternatively, the tape could becoloured to make it easily or highly visible.

An embodiment of tape is shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, which show views of anembodiment of tape 301 folded for storage (FIGS. 3A and 3B) and arrangedready for use (FIGS. 3C and 3D).

This embodiment incorporates a central region of material 302 along thecentre of the tape 301, and side portion, onto which are punchedalternating sections of barbs 502 and barb-free regions. In this tapeembodiment, the central region 302 may be larger than that discussedabove and incorporates a succession of slots/sprocket holes 306.

These slots 306 serve two purposes—they provide a natural weakness alongthe centre line of the tape 301 and provide a method of power drivingthe tape through an array of spiked wheels and guide (e.g. sprockets).However, these are not essential.

It will also be noted that the design of the barbs 305 is somewhatdifferent from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the spikes extending ina generally parallel direction away from the central region 302. Thisallows the barbs 305 to be arranged relatively close to one another, andstill allows the tape 301 to be folded flat as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.It therefore allows a relatively large number of barbs 305 per unitlength. However, the scale of the barbs 305 may be similar to thatdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In its stowed state, side portions of the tape 301 (and the barbs 305)are folded along fold lines 307 about the smooth central core containingthe sprocket holes 306. This provides a flat tape 301 with smooth edges(see in particular the end view of FIG. 3B) which is readily handled,and unlikely to ensnare itself, and further allows considerable lengthsof flat packed, layered tape to be stored (for example, wound onto adrum or the like) in a relatively small space. The barbs 305 lie closeto the central region 302, although there is a small space therebetween.This is not essential, but assists when unfolding the tape 301 fordeployment as a wedge can enter that space.

In use of the tape, it is envisaged that the structure shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B is formed in multiple stages, for example using the apparatusshown in FIG. 5 below. First, the tape 301 passes between a set ofprofiled rollers, which impart a slight angle into the tape 301 tofurther open up a gap between the central region 302 of the tape 301 andthe barbs 304. This gives a space for the nose of a shaped wedge toenter. The wedge is arranged to provide a “separating” peg and may havea form, for example, like a plough blade. The arrangement is such thatas the tape 301 is forced passed the peg, the tip of the wedge forcesthe side portions, and hence the barbs 305, away from the centralportions such that they stand proud thereof and the tape 301 has thecross section of U-shaped channel. The fold lines 307 have now becomecrease lines 309, and the barbs 305 protrude out of the plane of thecentral portion 302.

Once the side portions of the tape 301 unfolded, the tape 301 continuesto pass through another set of rollers that deform the central spine ofthe tape along the line of sprocket holes 306. The central portion 302is now folded through a nominal 90°, producing a third crease line 309.Once released from the confines of the forming wheels the steel willtend to regain its original profile but with a bent central section 302,the side portions now interact against each other to form a partiallyclosed box or triangular form with the barbs 305 projecting from astiff, box-like, spinal column.

This arrangement will, for short lengths be stiff enough to beself-supporting and form looping structures at long lengths to give a 3Darray.

FIGS. 4A-4C show a further embodiment of a tape 401, in which a centralportion of material 402 bears a number of barbs 405. As with theembodiment described in relation to FIGS. 3A-D, there are a number ofsprocket holes 406 provided in the centre of the central portion 402.Furthermore, as described in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and3B, the barbs 405 are initially folded inwards about fold lines 408, asshown in FIG. 4A, to provide a substantially flat, two layer tape, whichis relatively easy to handle and convenient to store. Indeed, the foldlines are formed so as to create a ridge like feature along the edges ofthe folded tape 401. The barbs 405 lie between the ridges and aretherefore somewhat guarded thereby as they do not protrude beyond theouter profile of the ridges. This helps to guard against accidentalsnagging of the barbs 405.

Again, in use of the tape 401, it is envisaged that the structure shownin FIG. 4B is formed in multiple stages. First, the tape 401 passesbetween a set of profiled rollers to slightly lift the barbs 405 fromthe central portion and over a shaped guidance “separating” peg havingthe wedge-like form described above, and arranged to force the barbs405, away from the central portion 402 such that they stand proudthereof.

Once the barbs 405 are unfolded, the tape 401 continues to pass throughanother set of rollers that deform the central portion 402 of the tape401, providing two creases 409 in the region of the edge of the centralportion 402. The central portion 402 is thereby folded along creaselines 409 which define two barb-bearing side edge portions 407 a, 407 b,which also include the original fold lines. It will be noted thereforethat, in this example, the original folds 408 remain and the creases 409are made in a region of the material other than the fold lines 408. Oncereleased from the confines of the forming wheels, the tape 401 forms a“W” shaped profile with the barbs projecting from the newly stiff spinalcolumn.

This arrangement will be stiff enough to be self-supporting and formstructures to give a 3D array thus lifting the tape 401 from its flatprofile.

If desired, the tape 401 could be further deformed along the centralline, as shown in FIG. 4C, creating a closed box structure similar tothat discussed with relation to FIG. 3C above, providing a third creaseline 409.

Unfolding apparatus 500 is shown schematically in FIG. 5. This apparatuscomprises a first pair of drive sprockets 502 arranged to interact withsprocket holes, a wedge 504 for lifting the barbs off the centralportion, a set of forming wheels 506 arranged to insert a crease lineand a second pair of drive sprockets 508. The drive sprockets 502, 508draw the tape 301, 401 past the wedge 504 and through the set of formingwheels 506 to produce the formed tape. The forming wheels may themselvesbe profiled to help shape the tape. The first pair of drive sprockets502 may be arranged to perform profiling. In particular, they may bearrange to flex the edges of the tape way from the centre, imparting aslight angle into the tape to open up a gap between the central regionof the tape and the barbs. This opens up a space for the nose of theshaped wedge 504 to enter.

The second pair of drive sprockets 508 may be driven faster than thefirst pair of drive sprockets 502. This helps to hold the tape taut.

Of course, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, with the tapeembodiment shown in FIG. 3 or that embodiment shown in FIG. 4C, at leastone drive sprocket of the second pair of drive sprockets 508 should beomitted as the box like form will prevent the tape being engaged on bothsides. Other methods of driving the tape will occur to the skilledperson.

As mentioned previously, conventional barbed wire has been used tocontrol the movement of animals and humans for over a hundred years.However, to date the barbed wire has always been fabricated elsewhereand transported as a spiky load prior to deployment. This means thatcoils of barbed wire are preformed in stock lengths and rapid deployment(often during high stress situations) is difficult.

In view of the above, a further embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a “barbed tape gun” for dispensing barbed tape, which may bemicro barbed tape of the kind described above.

The barbed tape gun may comprise a hard enclosed backpack to be worn bya user on a person's back like a rucksack for storing a supply of tapeto be dispensed. As described in more detail later, the tape may bestock tape, i.e. raw, unpunched tape, pre-profiled tape or frangibletape.

The gun may comprise a body having a handle projecting therefrom to begrasped by a user with a trigger disposed adjacent to the handle foractivating the gun and causing barbed tape to be dispensed.

In one example, tape from the backpack is fed to the gun and dispensedtherefrom when the trigger is actuated via, e.g. a flexible umbilicalattaches the backpack to the “Barrier gun” lance.

The gun may be provided with a power source, which may conveniently behoused in the backpack, such as a battery pack, and drive means, such asan electric motor, which is operable to drive a tape dispensingarrangement housed in the body of the gun. Alternatively, the barbedtape gun may be mains powered, or even hand powered. In the case thatthe gun is powered by hand, the handle and trigger may be formed suchthat pressure exerted by a user's hand, e.g. a squeezing action, causesrelative movement between the handle and trigger which is transmitted tothe tape dispensing arrangement so as to dispense the barbed tape. In afurther example, it may be possible to attach an end of the tape to afixed object or structure, and the act of pulling away from that pointdraws tape into though the mechanism.

In one example, the tape dispensing mechanism comprises one or morepair(s) of counter rotating rollers or drums between which the tape tobe dispensed is fed. Such rollers or drums may comprise cutting drums,profiling means, twisting means and/or may be arranged to draw the tapetherebetween, driving it through the mechanism. Alternatively oradditionally, as explained in more detail below, a punch and anvilarrangement may be provided. In further examples, also described below,the tape is pre profiled so need not be punched to form barbs.

The gun will typically be provided with control circuitry forcontrolling operation of the tape dispensing mechanism in response to auser pulling the trigger. The gun may have a safety cut off to preventaccidental operation and, in use, the gun will discharge tape at a speedrelative to the pulled position of the trigger. Whenever the trigger isreleased the tape will be cropped off and discharged from the gun.Display means may be provided to show the available tape remaining inthe container and/or the state of the battery pack and/or power system.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the tape fed to the gun is a stock(i.e. un-profiled) tape, the tape dispensing arrangement 200 comprises afirst pair of tape drive rollers 202 disposed upstream, in a tape feeddirection, from a pair of pre-profiling rollers 204. Downstream from thepre-profiling roller 204 is disposed, respectively; a profile punch 205and an anvil 206, a pair of tape drawing drive rollers 208 and a pair ofprofiling rollers 210. The punch 205 and the anvil 206 are disposed onopposite sides of a tape feed path. A cam 212 is arranged adjacent tothe profile punch 205, such that rotation of the cam 212 when driven bya motor (not shown) causes reciprocating movement of the profile punch205 toward and away from the anvil 206.

Downstream from the profiling rollers 210 there is disposed a tapecutting mechanism 214 and tape twisting means 215. The tape cuttingmechanism 214 comprises an anvil block 216, a blade 217, a cutter drivemotor 218, a gear box 219, a cam 220 and a slide anvil 221. The anvilblock 216 and the blade 217 are disposed on opposite sides of the tapefeed path. The cutter drive motor 218 drives rotation of the cam 220 viathe gearbox 219. In turn, the cam 220 causes reciprocating movement ofthe slide anvil 221 forcing the blade 217 against the anvil block 216 tocut the tape.

Operation of the tape dispensing mechanism will now be described in moredetail, in an embodiment arranged to produce a shaped tape. Raw,un-profiled tape 230 is drawn from the backpack through the umbilicaland into the tape dispensing mechanism by the tape drive rollers 202 andthe tape drawing drive rollers 208. In this example, the speed of thetape drive rollers 202 is regulated and different to the following tapedrawing drive rollers 208. Although this is not essential, thedifferential speed has the effect of straightening the coiled tape andstarts to pre-profile the tape ready for the punch process. As the tapepasses between the profile punch 205 and the anvil 206, the barbs 5 areformed into the tape 230 and the residue is discarded as short swarf ora long string. Once the tape 230 has been punched to have barbs 5 itpasses into the profiling rollers 210 where the flat tape gets formedinto “U”, “V” or “W” cross-section (or other stiffening shape, asdescribed above). Once profiled, the tape is discharged through thecutter mechanism 214 which chops off the tape whenever the gun's triggeris released. Before finally leaving the gun, the tape passes through the(optional) tape twisting means 215 which forms the dispensed tape into aspiral body ensuring that it does not just lay flat on the floor.

In one variation of the above-described embodiment, the reel of tapewhich is fed to the gun may be pre-profiled with the barbs, which maynot be folded into the centre of the tape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.When the pre-profiled tape is wound into a reel for storage in acontainer, such as a backpack, there is a risk that the barbs ofoverlying sections of the reel of tape will become entangled with oneanother, thereby inhibiting or preventing the reel from being unwoundand dispensed by the gun. In this case, the barbed tape may be providedwith a guard tape in order to facilitate dispensing tape.

The guard tape may be in the form of a U-shaped channel in which thebarbed tape rests. Alternatively, the guard tape may comprise a planarbacking tape with an adhesive coated on one surface thereof, such thatthe barbed tape is adhered to the surface of the guard tape prior tobeing dispensed. In this case, the tape dispensing mechanism maycomprise means for separating the adhesive guard tape from the barbedtape at a location upstream of the drive rollers, such that the guardtape is stripped away from the barbed tape prior to the barbed tapebeing dispensed. Additionally, since the tape is pre-profiled with thebarbs, the gun does not need to incorporate the separate punch 205 andanvil 206, which reduces cost and simplifies construction of the gun.The gun may still include the tape twisting means 215, and includes theprofiling rollers 210, as the pre-profiled barbed tape stored in thecontainer preferably has a flat planar cross-section to make it easierto wind/unwind.

In a further variation of the above-described embodiment, the reel oftape may comprise a frangible tape formed with interior barbs and smoothouter edges. For example, the frangible tape is similar to thepre-profiled tape described above, except that the residue of theprofiling/punching process is not removed prior to the tape being storedin the container for use with the gun. Rather, the outline of the barbedtape profile is stamped/punched in a plain tape with smooth outer edges,which is then wound into a reel for storage in the backpack container.This is advantageous because the barbs 5 are not exposed, so there is noneed for a guard tape to prevent entanglement of the barbed tape on thereel. Furthermore, the punch 205 and anvil 206 may be omitted from thegun. Instead, the gun is provided with means for stripping away theresidue/swarf from the outer edges of the tape so as to reveal thebarbed profile prior to the tape being dispensed from the gun. To thisend, the gun may include means for flexing the tape so that the residualportions become separated from the barbed tape. This may be creating oneor more meanders in the tape feed path between the tape drive rollers202 and the cutting mechanism 214, for example, by offsetting one ormore of the intermediate sets of rollers 204, 208, 210 so that the tapeis made to flex/bend as it travels through the gun. Alternatively, or inaddition, the tape feed path may include a resilient member in the tapefeed path which forms a lip around which the tape is fed, such that theresidual outer portions of the frangible tape are caused to break awayas they traverse the lip.

In an alternative embodiment, one length of un-barbed tape may bedispensed as two lengths of barbed tape by providing a frangible portionin the centre thereof. The tape would therefore be broken in two toreveal a barbed side (the external edge remaining barb-free).

The bobbins of ribbon strip which are currently available provide over250 m of banding within a relatively small volume, and can easily becarried, for example in a rucksack. This would make carriage andtransport easy. This means that a single person can carry and deploy asignificant amount of barbed barrier tape yet be agile enough to reactto crowd conditions. Having the capability to immediately deploy abarbed barrier also allows the security forces to block off roads,passageways and street thus allowing them to route or guide crowds orcombatants. Thus, with the barbed tape gun described above, it ispossible in situations such as crowd and riot control to lay down afence of barrier wire where and when required.

It is expected that, while combatants will not be completely stopped bythis ‘bramble bush’, it will inhibit and delay their escape long enoughfor them detected and subsequently confined by other methods.

Variants of the above embodiments may be apparent to the skilled person.In particular, features described in relation to one embodiment may alsobe combined with another embodiment. There may be more, or fewer, creaselines along a central axis, and the barbs may have a different form tothat described above. The gun 200 may incorporate one or more featuresof the unfolding apparatus 500, and vice versa.

1. A barbed tape formed from a planar strip of flexible material andcomprising a plurality of barbs disposed therealong, said barbs beingsufficiently resilient so as to impede, by entanglement with orotherwise, the passage of an object therepast, the tape comprising: acentral portion having first and second side edges and a longitudinalaxis; a plurality of barbs disposed at spaced locations along at leastone of said side edges, each of said barbs comprising at least onespike; wherein the central portion incorporates at least one creasetherein, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 2. A barbedtape according to claim 1 which is a micro-barbed tape. 3-4. (canceled)5. A barbed tape according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spikeor said pair of spikes project from a connecting portion which extendslaterally from said at least one side edge. 6-7. (canceled)
 8. A barbedtape according to claim 1, wherein the material is a metal or a plasticsmaterial.
 9. A barbed tape according to claim 8, wherein the material isstainless steel having a thickness of approximately 250-500 microns. 10.A barbed tape according to claim 1, wherein the tape comprises a coatingwhich includes at least one of ultra-violet reflective matter andinfra-red reflective matter.
 11. A barbed tape according to claim 1,wherein the central portion comprises sprocket holes arranged to receivea driving/securing member.
 12. A barbed tape according to claim 1wherein the tape has a U-shaped, V-shaped or a W-shaped cross-section.13. A barbed tape according to claim 1 wherein the barbs are arranged toextend past one another and to mutually interfere to resist the creasebeing opened up.
 14. A barbed tape formed from a planar strip offlexible material and comprising a plurality of barbs disposedtherealong, said barbs being sufficiently resilient so as to impede, byentanglement with or otherwise, the passage of an object therepast, thetape comprising; a central portion having first and second parallel sideedges and a longitudinal axis; a plurality of barbs disposed at spacedlocations along at least one of said side edges, each of said barbscomprising at least one spike; wherein the central portion incorporatesat least one fold therein, substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis, such that the barbs overlie the central portion.
 15. A barbed tapeaccording to claim 14 in which the barbs lie substantially parallel tothe central portion and do not protrude beyond the central portion
 16. Abarbed tape according to claim 14 which is arranged to be unfolded andformed with a crease.
 17. A barbed tape according to claim 14 in whichat least one fold line forms at least one crease line.
 18. An apparatusfor dispensing barbed tape according to claim 1; the apparatuscomprising; punching means for punching out the profile of the barbedtape from a strip of un-profiled tape; feeding means for feeding theun-profiled tape past the punching means, and profiling means, disposeddownstream of said punching means in a tape feed direction, forprofiling the tape by introducing at least one crease substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tape.
 19. An apparatusaccording to claim 18 comprising tape twisting means, for twisting thebarbed tape dispensed by the apparatus into a spiral.
 20. A handhelddevice comprising the tape dispensing apparatus of claim 18, the devicefurther comprising control means and trigger means wherein the controlmeans is operable to control the tape dispensing apparatus to dispensebarbed tape in response to a user activating the trigger means.
 21. Adevice according to claim 20, wherein the tape dispensing apparatuscomprises cutting means for cutting off a length of dispensed tape. 22.A device according to claim 21, the control means being operable toactivate the cutting means in response to the trigger means moving froman activated state to a non-activated state.
 23. A device according toclaim 20, wherein the control means is operable to control the punchingmeans and the feeding means to vary the rate at which barbed tape isdispensed in dependence on a degree of activation of the trigger means.24. Apparatus for dispensing barbed tape comprising a handheld deviceaccording to claim 18, a container for storing a supply of un-profiledtape and a conduit between the container and the handheld deviceallowing the passage of tape therealong. 25-29. (canceled)